Time for Butler to make big strides

With Brewer gone, Bulls expect last year's 1st-rounder to assume much larger role

July 21, 2012|By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter

Jimmy Butler takes a shot over the Celtics' Stephane lasme during a summer league game. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US Presswire Photo)

LAS VEGAS — Jimmy Butler is projected to take Ronnie Brewer's defensive sparkplug role off the bench next season, but that's not all the second-year player from Marquette grabbed from Brewer and other departed veterans.

"I want to show Marquis (Teague) the ropes like Ronnie and all those guys did for me," Butler said last week at the Vegas Summer League. "They took me under their wing and showed me so much, and now it's my turn to get my confidence and every part of my game up and learn how to be a better leader."

Teague and Butler are the only locks here to land on the 2012-13 Bulls roster, and it's clear this summer league is all about their development.

In the first two games, Butler displayed a more aggressive mindset and ability to attack the rim, shooting 24 free throws. He also continued the physical defense that highlighted some of his higher-profile, regular-season appearances from his rookie season.

However, his work is not done, according to the man whose opinion counts the most.

"He has to do a lot better than he did last year," coach Tom Thibodeau said.

This is a huge summer for Butler, last year's first-round pick. Thanks to last season's NBA lockout, Butler had no summer league. He had no offseason supervision from coaches and the Bulls' strength and conditioning staff. He had an abbreviated training camp. He barely had any practice time because the compressed schedule meant non-game days were days off.

Thibodeau knows this as well as anyone.

"It's very important, not just in terms of summer league but in terms of working on his game, working on his body, studying the league, knowing what we're trying to get done," Thibodeau said. "I have to be able to count on him. He has done a terrific job so far this summer but this isn't the NBA. This is basically a rookie league. It's a good step. He's in great shape, which is always a good sign. He's playing with confidence. But he has to keep working.

"There are a lot of things he has to do better to be in the regular rotation. He understands that and I love the way he has approached things this offseason."

Before coming to Las Vegas, Butler practically lived at the Berto Center. He would work out, rest, then work out again. His body looks fit. His mind sounds sharp. He knows the opportunity ahead of him.

"I'm still kind of a rookie, but I feel I'm a veteran on this (summer league) team so I have to lead," he said. "If that means trying to take over a game, that's what I'll do. Going against this competition helps me. It's teaching me to play through everything. A lot of fouls aren't being called. That's OK. It'll make me tougher when the real season starts."

Butler averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.5 minutes over 42 games last season. With Brewer gone and with a slim possibility Luol Deng will miss time with his injured wrist, Butler knows he has to be ready for increased responsibility.

Assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who is heading the summer-league squad, goes so far as to say Butler is "the man" and "go-to guy" until the Bulls' five-game schedule concludes Sunday. Relayed this news, Butler smiles.

"I feel like my hard work is paying off," he said. "But that doesn't mean you stop working."

Layups: The Bulls still haven't received Omer Asik's three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet he signed with the Rockets on Friday. They will have three days to match or decline once they do. Attempts have been made, so the league could get involved as it did when the Rockets had difficulty presenting Jeremy Lin's offer sheet to the Knicks. … The Bulls improved to 1-3 in the Vegas Summer League with a 77-74 victory against the Clippers behind Butler's 23 points. Malcolm Thomas added 21 points and 16 rebounds.